Photographic stroll

Le Regard Libre No. 36 – Marina De Toro

One Tuesday afternoon, around 2:00 p.m., I decided to take my brother on a photography walk. For several days, the cold and fog had taken hold, and it was hard to distinguish the gray from the other colors that normally characterize the Jura landscape. But on this February 13, 2018, a radiant sun rose, breathing new life into the town and its residents. The thin blanket of snow gradually melted away, moistening the ground and revealing traces of the region’s beloved carnival. It’s not only a sunny day, but also yet another day of celebration where floats and confetti take center stage, enjoyed by young and old alike.

Meanwhile, my brother and I revisit the upper part of town, our Canon cameras slung around our necks, in search of a moment to capture. Upon arriving at Notre-Dame du Chêne, the town of Delémont unfolds before our eyes, squinted against the intense glare that dominates the sky. Everything is calm, and the view is perfect for photography and adjusting the exposure. Then we head downhill and follow two rows of trees that cast a subtle shadow along the path they line—an ideal spot for portraits and practicing with a fixed focal length. Finally, we reach the old town, where we see evidence of a past procession in the form of multicolored cobblestones that the children delight in rearranging. Before heading back, we decide to wander up an alley that seems to belong more to our Italian neighbors. The narrow, winding alley reveals old, renovated row houses, each with its own unique color and shape. This place opens up a multitude of possibilities for us: playing with perspective and colors, experimenting with different angles, and using light as a guide. We walk through this alley with particular care, searching for the smallest details that inspire us to capture a shot.

Marina De Toro, «Rue du N,» Delémont, February 13, 2018

In fact, these photography excursions allow us to rediscover the world we’ve been living in for several years. We’ve walked on these cobblestones and along these walls countless times, but photography lets us see them in a new light and give them a sense of eternity in a world where everything passes and never returns.

Write to the author : marina.detoro@leregardlibre.com